Vietnam and Iraq Wars: Parallelism and Its Impact on U.S. Foreign Policy

Abstract

This article describes certain policies were developed in Vietnam and Iraq Wars in term of the quality of intelligence and congressional decision-making within two wars. Two similarities are identified: a) the failure of intelligence in both war policies; and b) the controversy surrounding the policies to declare both wars. The Vietnam and Iraq wars have similarities in terms of the quality of intelligence and presidential decision-making to go to war. The fall and manipulation of intelligence and the increase of executive powers colored policies in both war declarations. Pluralism and elite-power theory shape U.S. foreign policy in which a few groups/elites govern the many. A critical perspective was presented to improve the quality of foreign policy by more listening to what allies consider being important and by gaining multilateral cooperation to overcome major multinational threats.